2. Atlantis: The Final Mission
• CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Atlantis and four
astronauts thundered into orbit, July 8, 2011 on NASA's
last space shuttle voyage, writing the final chapter in a 30-
year story of dazzling triumphs, shattering tragedy and,
ultimately, unfulfilled expectations. After days of gloomy
forecasts full of rain and heavy cloud cover, the spaceship
lifted off at 11:29 a.m. -- just 2 minutes late -- and
embarked on the 135th shuttle mission. The crowd of
spectators was estimated at nearly 1 million.
• When Atlantis touched down July 21,2011 at Cape
Canaveral, Fla., the high-flying era of the space shuttles
came down to earth as well. After 30 years, the shuttle
program, which began on April 12, 1981 with Colombia,
has ended with the 135th mission. Atlantis delivered the
Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with
supplies and spare parts to the International Space
Station, and retrieved a failed pump unit and other items
for the return trip. Atlantis went aloft 33 times, logging
over 125 million miles. The last shuttle will become a
museum exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center.
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4. July 8, 2011
The space shuttle Atlantis astronauts left to right, mission specialists Rex Walheim, Sandra
Magnus, pilot Doug Hurley and commander Chris Ferguson.
13. July 8, 2011
Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The STS135 mission, the final shuttle flight, will bring supplies to the international space station.
27. Astronaut Ron Garan checks out his pistol grip tool in the International Space
Station's Quest airlock prior to his July 12 spacewalk on July 12, 2011.
28. July 12, 2011
The International Space Station and Atlantis (right) orbit Earth.
29. July 12, 2011
Spacewalker Ron Garan rides on the International Space Station's robotic arm with Earth below as
he transfers a failed pump module to the cargo bay of space shuttle Atlantis during the final
spacewalk.
30. Atlantis and International Space Station astronauts gather for one of the final meals shared
between shuttle and station crews aboard the orbiting laboratory on July 14, 2011.
31. Astronaut Sandy Magnus gets one last visit to the Cupola on board the International Space Station
before the two spacecraft undocked on July 18, 2011.
33. Astronaut Mike Fossum carries a Robotics Refueling Mission payload from Atlantis' cargo bay
to a platform used by the space station's famous robot DEXTRE.
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35. July 21, 2011
Atlantis lands on July 21, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ending its 13-day mission.
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37. July 21, 2011
The drag chute is deployed as the space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida, completing STS-135, the final mission of the NASA shuttle program.
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42. July 21, 2011
Space shuttle Atlantis is towed to the Orbitor Processing facility for decommissioning at the
Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
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46. July 21, 2011
Commander Chris Ferguson walks under Atlantis after landing at the Kennedy Space Center
at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
47. July 21, 2011
Atlantis is towed into its hangar at the Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in
Florida after it landed several hours earlier, ending its 13-day mission and final flight for the
space shuttle program.
